According to the historian, Basilica Minore de San Sebastián, also known as San Sebastián Church, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Manila, the Philippines. It is the seat of the Parish of San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Completed in 1891, San Sebastián Church is noted for its architectural features. An example of the revival of Gothic architecture in the Philippines, it is the only all-steel church or basilica in Asia.and claimed as the only prefabricated steel church in the world.

In 2006, San Sebastian Church was included in the Tentative List for possible designation as a World Heritage Site. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1973.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the center.

Construction

The prefabricated steel sections that would compose the church were manufactured in Binche, Belgium. According to the historian Ambeth Ocampo, the knockdown steel parts were ordered from the Societe Anonyme des Enterprises de Travaux Publiques in Brussels. In all, 52 tons of prefabricated steel sections were transported in eight separate shipments from Belgium to the Philippines, the first shipment arriving in 1888.Belgian engineers supervised the assembly of the church, the first column of which was erected on September 11, 1890.The walls were filled with mixed sand, gravel and cement.The stained glass windows were imported from the Henri Oidtmann Company, a German stained glass firm, while local artisans assisted in applying the finishing touches of the steel church.

The church was raised to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII on June 24, 1890.Upon its completion the following year, on August 16, 1891, Basilica Minore de San Sebastián was consecrated by the Archbishop of Manila, Bernardo Nozaleda.

And here some of the pictures taken at Basilica Minore de San Sebastián.

you'll know if the structure was made from here or from another country from the material. it's amazing that we have this one in manila. one of the nicest actually in terms of it's structure and material.

I graduated from SSC in 1972 and used to go into the church daily. I had my yearbook picture taken in the basilica garden. I wish I had the gizmos I have now so I could have preserved all those memories...